Originally Posted by
sinister
Gents, arguments about what type of rifle may come down to what your department's guidelines might be (qualification, sustainment, and currency, and agency buy policy).
The arguments can go on for days. If you work for a department that requires a factory-built / no-modification or light modification rifle (to accomodate height, length-of-pull, etc.), or if you can shoot only agency-bought weapons then your choices may narrow down to something like a 308 Remington 700, Winchester 70, or Savage 110.
If you work for a big department with large tax base (say like Fairfax, Virginia) they may be able to afford something more exotic (read expensive), but the gadgetry won't make the individual officer a better shooter.
If the officer is fortunate (or unfortunate) enough that he is allowed to use whatever he thinks is the best, the limits come down to what the officer thinks he can afford and shoot the best with the time he is allowed to practice or thinks he can spare.
If the sniper ever fails to kill a bad guy (righteous shot by rules for deadly force) and an innocent life is lost because of a failure of training, certification, or for whatever reason due to a privately-owned system, woe to him if a suing party goes on expedition.
A military guy would consider METT-T (Mission-Enemy-Troops or gear available-Terrain-and Time). No single weapon or device meets all needs, but you have to train to what you think your highest mission use set might be. Soldiers will probably be shooting at lots of bad guys jinking and running. Cops probably won't (not saying the possibility might never come up).
A game warden will need something different than a high threat warrant service team.
Never been a cop -- just my 2 cents from a Soldier's viewpoint.
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